Spring Shoots

Sara Powell joins the regular cast of The Killing Kind for Paramount +/ Sony Pictures, a new legal thriller based on Jane Casey’s book of the same name which has been adapted and directed by Zara Hayes. Jodie McNee films Breathtaking, a powerful 3 part drama for ITV based on Dr Rachel Clarke’s book that provides an account of the life of an NHS doctor during the Covid pandemic. Thomas Coombes completes filming on Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, written and directed by Richard Gadd and based on his one man play and Derek Hutchinson shoots The Way, a brilliant Michael Sheen and James Graham collaboration, set in South Wales and inspired by global unrest and the migration crisis.

New graduate Jake Cecil is delighted to be joining Season 2 of Interview With A Vampire shooting in Prague and Alex Blake joins the cast of Joan, a new six part series for ITV/ITVX based on the true story of Joan Hannington, the UK’s most notorious female jewell thief based on her her memoir I Am What I Am. Joe Sims has wrapped filming on Ruby Speaking alongside award winning comedian and fellow Bristolian Jayde Adams, who also created and stars in the show. Roger Sloman has completed new comedy Dinner With the Parents for Big Talk and Amazon Studios with Tristram Shapeero directing whilst Gavin Spokes has joined the cast of Cold Storage, a dark comedy sci-fi directed by Johnny Campbell for Studio Canal currently shooting in Italy.

Stage News

Stage News

A busy season of theatre is coming up to start the year …
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Screen 2024

Screen 2024

Must sees for 2024 …
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Autumn Screen

Autumn Screen

As the nights draw in, watch our clients in some of the country’s finest drama! …
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Summer Stage

Summer Stage

Our clients are in some amazing productions this Summer/Autumn …
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New Year Update

Screen View

Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s acclaimed film which has garnered much awards talk opens across the UK on 21 January and features Josie Walker in the role of Auntie Violet.  Also on general release and opening to brilliant reviews is Boiling Point, a one shot film that takes place during service in a busy London restaurant and with Thomas Coombes playing opposite Stephen Graham as Mr Lovejoy.  Hotel Portofino with Oliver Dench as Lucien premieres on Brit Box at the end of January and Harlan Coban’s Stay Close is now streaming on Netflix starring Cush Jumbo and featuring Aidan Kelly as series reg Rudi.  

Roy Williams drama Screw is showing on Channel 4 with Nicholas Lumley playing prison regular Larry and Daniel Crossley plays Bernard McDonald in Rules of the Game – a four part thriller with Maxine Peake, currently on BBC  iPlayer.  Also on iPlayer and a timely reminder to protect our BBC is Olwyn May in A Very British Scandal, Roger Sloman in Mandy, Thomas Coombes in Eastenders, Joseph May in the fantastic revival of Toast of Tinseltown and for the kids, Emma Handy in The Beaker Girls and Jason Callender in Malory Towers.


Back On Stage

It’s exciting to see some of our ladies leading NT productions as we make our way back to theatre. Tamsin Carroll has opened in Hex (Olivier) Laura Rogers in The Ocean at the End of the Lane (The Duke of York’s West End ) and  Sophie Stone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime (NT Touring). Also, Jodie McNee will be playing Nora in Manchester Royal Exchanges new production of The Doll’s House to be directed by Bryony Shanahan. 

James Doherty returns to the West End in Come From Away and other theatre opening soon includes Tom Edden in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Cyrano (West End & BAM), Joe Sims in Bristol Old Vic’s The Red Lion, and Mariah Louca in Cherry Jezebel a new play which will premiere at Liverpool’s Everyman in February. 

Autumn Shoots
Part I

TV

Latest casting news has been announced on HBO’s much anticipated Game of Thrones prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ and we’re thrilled to confirm that Gavin Spokes is playing the role of Lord Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws to King Viserys and Lord of Harrenhal.  Filming will continue for the rest of this year. Amy Cudden joins the cast of The Midwich Cuckoos playing the regular role of Sarah McLean as David Farr teams up with Sky to adapt John Wyndham’s original sci-fi novel based in a sleepy English village with Alice Troughton directing. 

Eugene O’Hare is filming Season 2 of HBO’s Industry and Robert Hands will appear in Noughts & Crosses 2 for Mammoth Screen before going on to film Masterpiece/ ITV’s new remake of the classic Tom JonesBen Dilloway, meanwhile, will play the role of Col Bill Airing in the epic Whirlwind: Masters of the Air for Apple TV with Dee Rees directing his block.

Also filming this autumn is Joseph  May in the return of Toast of Tinseltown with Michael Cumming directing for Objective /BBC, Aleksandar Mikic in Stay Close with Lindy Heyman directing for Red Productions, Guy Rhys in The Witcher: Blood Origins with Sarah O’Gorman directing for Netflix and Alex Blake as Father Augustin in Dangerous Liaisons with Leonora Lonsdale directing for Starz.  Kate Fahy will play the mother of Kim Philby in a new ITV drama centred around the Cold War’s most infamous spy in A Spy Among Friends and Olwen May is currently filming the second season of Miss Scarlett and the Duke for PBS. Charlie Field has been filming a guest lead role in Season 3 of Amazon’s Jack Ryan Series and Hywel Morgan films a new 6 part drama Tell Me Everything for ITV exploring the mental stress on today’s teens . Jimmy Walker  plays Mr A in the Amazon Originals Series The Devil’s Hour from the creators of Sherlock whilst Lochlann O’Mearain joins the cast of Holding, Graham Norton’s successful novel that is being adapted for the screen and directed by Kathy Burke,  filming on location in Ireland. Sara Powell joins the cast of Murder In Provence, Britbox’s first US and global commission and Sally Scott completes filming on The Tower which Jim Loach directs for Mammoth. Jack Sandle joins season 2 of BBC’s The Capture. Kate Maravan guests in The Split 3 for Sister Pictures/BBC and Emma Handy plays new regular Mrs Cook in the popular revival of The Beaker Girls with John McKay directing for BBC. Look out as well for Roger Sloman who returns to the BBC in Mandy written and directed by the brilliant Diane Morgan and for Cosima Shaw who will be returning to the screen in German/CBS co-production Ze Network. More to follow.

Film


On film Lochlann O’Mearin has just wrapped Joyride opposite Olivia Colman and directed by Emer Reynolds. Josie Walker shoots Netflix feature The Wonder adapted from the acclaimed novel by Emma Donoghue and directed by Sebastian Leilo and plays Sister Michael with Florence Pugh in the leading role. Eugene O’Hare shoots Lady Chatterley’s Lover, the first film collaboration between Netflix and Sony Pictures with Emma Corrin and Jack O’ Connell in the title roles and Leah Gayer has just filmed The Prizefighter with Russel Crowe.  Graham Turner films  The Last Voyage of the Demeter with Andre Ovredal at the helm and Thomas Coombes films Living for Number 9 Films in an adaptation of the Ishiguro novel.

Screen update

TV

Thomas Coombes joins the cast of Hatton Garden – Jeff Pope and Paul Whittington’s next collaboration for ITV after Little Boy Blue and The Moorside, this time telling the inside story of the infamous jewell heist. Filming begins in Budapest on the second season of National Geographic’s MARS the global sic-fi series from Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment with Cosima Shaw reprising her role as Leslie. Matt Rawle films a guest role in Trust, Danny Boyle’s new show for FX about the Getty family whilst Sally Scott shoots Trauma, Mike Bartlett’s new drama for ITV with Marc Evans directing. Rocky Marshall returns as bodyguard James Hill in The Royals whilst Esther Coles joins the popular comedy series Josh which returns again to the BBC for series 3. Roger Sloman and Gavin Spokes make guest appearances in Greg Davies’ Man Down whilst Emma Handy and Sam Alexander both return to Doc Martin for the much loved new series. New grad Patricia Allison completes filming on Thanks For the Memories a 2 x 90’ film for ZDF based on Cecelia Ahern’s novel whilst Colm Gormly films a guest role in Victoria, Mammoth Screen/ITV, Paul Frift directing.

Film

Carol Macready completes filming on Walk Like A Panther, Fox International’s new comedy drama about the British wrestling world with Dan Cadan directing. Hayley Carmichael shoots Overlord, Julius Avery and JJ Abraham’s World War II
drama set in France. Ken Bones films Baghdad In My Shadow, a thriller set amidst London’s Iraqi community directed by Samir and Kriss Dosanjh films Benjamin, Simon Amstell’s writing and directorial debut feature. Meanwhile, Special Sundance Jury Award winner Gods Own Country featuring Melanie Kilburn as Gloria will be released in UK in early September and Sophie Stevens‘ first feature The Black Prince (from the producers of 12 Years a Slave) has opened in cinemas this week and has already made it into the top 10 in the UK box office chart.

Theatre updates

In theatre news, Eugene O’Hare joins the cast of Sam Mendes’ Royal Court production of The Ferryman. Written by Jez Butterworth, the play is set in Northern Ireland during the height of The Troubles. Gavin Spokes will play Enoch Snow in Carousel for the ENO, Daniel Rabin joins the cast of Robert Icke’s Hamlet at The Almeida and Aidan Kelly has been cast as Abaddon in Yael Farber’s re-working of Salome coming to the National Theatre.

Tom Edden begins rehearsals for The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at The Donmar with Simon Evans directing, Charlotte Lucas starts rehearsals on Speech and Debate at the Trafalgar Studios in a new play by the American playwright Stephen Karam, Andrew Koji plays Huang in the RSC’s re-telling of the classic Chinese drama Snow In Midsummer directed by Justin Audibert and Roger Sloman rehearses Seventeen at Lyric Hammersmith.

Josie Walker leads the cast of Everyone’s Talking About Jamie at the Sheffield Crucible directed by Jonathan Butterell with an original score written by Dan Gillespie Sells, David Seadon Young starts in An American In Paris and Lisa Palfrey opens in Junkyard which Jeremy Herrin directs for Headlong.

Screen Latest

Television

channel-columnJodie McNee and Sara Powell will be playing regular roles in ITV’s recently announced factual drama Little Boy Blue. Written by Jeff Pope and directed by Paul Whittington (Cilla, Mrs Biggs), this four part drama focuses on the murder of 11 year-old Rhys Jones in Croxteth, Liverpool in 2007 and the efforts of his parents to gain justice. Filming is now underway and will also feature Kent Riley and Howard Ward in guest roles across the series. Gary Oliver and Scott Karim join the cast of Britannia, Sky’s new 10 parter written by Jez Butterworth whilst Pooky Quesnel joins Hayley Carmichael in the E4/Netflix production Kiss Me First based on Lottie Moggarch’s thriller novel about stolen identity in the digital world. Melanie Kilburn and Tony Guilfoyle, meanwhile, feature in new Jimmy McGovern drama Broken, a 6 parter for the BBC and Thomas Coombes films the recurring role of Brother Anthony in Knightfall shooting in Prague for the History Channel.

Film

In film news Carol Macready and Josie Walker film Amma Asante’s forthcoming drama Where Hands Touch set in Berlin during WW2, Nicholas Lumley films the sequel to Paddington playing Old Timer Jack and Alex Felton and Alex Blake shoot the Richard Eyre directed Children Act. Looking ahead, Roger Sloman and Nicholas Lumley begin rehearsals on the new Mike Leigh feature about the Peterloo massacre due to shoot 2017.

Currently showing

You can catch series regulars Cosima Shaw in the brilliant Mars (National Geographic), Pooky Quesnel in Class (BBC and iPlayer) and Ken Bones in Medici (Netflix from December).

Autumn Newsletter

Coming Up:

Bastard ExecutionerLisa Palfrey and Natasha Gordon join the much anticipated Line of Duty III series and Lisa can also be seen in Fox’s Bastard Executioner alongside Stefan Kalipha. Joe Sims plays Greff in ITV’s epic new take on BeowulfRocky Marshall plays Palace Security Agent James Hill in E!’s cult drama The RoyalsHayley Carmichael can currently be seen in Michaela Coel’s new Channel 4 comedy Chewing Gum and Thomas Coombes appears in Jekyll & Hyde again for ITV. Terence Beesley will appear in this winter’s BBC blockbuster War and Peace as well as the new series of The Musketeers whilst newcomer Carla Harrison Hodge and a busy Thomas Coombes will all appear in Tiger Aspect’s new police drama Cuffs at the end of this month. And keep tuned too for more of Roger Sloman’s gripping portrayal as Les and alter ego Christine currently playing out in Eastenders.

Currently Filming:

Max Fowler in PowersPooky Quesnel will play Louise in The A Word a six part drama about an autistic boy and his family directed by Dominic LeClerc. Rose O’Loughlin shoots Small Town the story of two Irish youngsters who head off to London to start again for TV3 written and directed by IFTA winning Gerard Barrett. Ken Bones continues shooting Medici Kingdom of Gold in Rome, Max Fowler is back in Atlanta reprising his role as Krispin Stockley in the second series of Powers for Sony Picture Entertainment.

TV, Film & Theatre Updates

Film News

Hayley Carmichael will be working with director Matteo Garrone in his English language debut The Tale Of Tales – The Old Woman Who Was Skinned, a film based on the gruesome Neapolitan fairy tale of two sisters and starring Vincent Cassel and Salma Hayek. Rocky Marshall and Benjamin Davies meanwhile are due to begin shooting Remainder based on the book by Tom McCarthy and directed by Omer Fast for Tigerlily Films. Pride, Matthew Warchus’s film debut with Lisa Palfrey will premier at the Cannes Film Festival as the closing night film in the directors’ fortnight section. Mike Leigh’s Mr Turner featuring Tom Edden has officially been selected in competition at Cannes as has Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall featuring Colm Gormley.

TV Latest

Max Fowler joins the regular cast of Wolf Hall, the BBC’s much anticipated adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s prize winning novel directed by Peter Kosminsky and starring Mark Rylance and Damien Lewis. Rocky Marshall will join the third series of ITV’s Mr Selfridge as new regular DI Purkiss whilst Farshid Rokey films The BBC’s army drama Our Girl shooting in South Africa. Hermione Gulliford and Ferdy Roberts continue to film the third Foyles War film whilst Thomas Coombes makes a guest appearance in Atlantis the popular BBC drama directed by Justin Molotnikov. Ken Bones will be joining the cast in series 4 of ITV’s Scott and Bailey directed by Simon Delaney.

Watch out for more from Roger Sloman as funeral director Les Coker in Eastenders whilst Amy Marston can be seen playing Martha Hawkins in Channel 4’s Devil’s Whore sequel New Worlds available on catchup. Sarah Winman’s Undeniable is also available on ITV Player.

Congratulations to Joe Sims (Broadchurch) and Thomas Coombes (Him and Her The Wedding) which have been nominated for best drama series and TV comedy respectively at this year’s BAFTAs.

Theatre Update

180414 TheatreHermione Gulliford will be playing Vivienne in Hotel at The National Theatre’s Shed. The tropical thriller, a new play by Polly Stenham will be directed by Maria Aberg. Emma Handy will play Kristin in Chichester’s Minerva Studio Miss Julie a new version written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Jamie Glover. Tom Edden will be appearing as Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables the world famous musical, playing in the West End from June. Openings include Tafline Steen as Jess in King Charles III at The Almeida which has recieved five star reviews whilst Jay Simpson starts his RSC run in Stratford-Upon-Avon at the end of the month playing Black Will in The Arden of Faversham. Also Richard Teverson will be opening in How Many Miles To Babylon at The Lyric Belfast.

Spring News Update

We’re celebrating our two year anniversary this month with some exciting client announcements. Our latest news update proves the depth and versatility of our actors who are landing great roles in some of the best productions.

On Stage:

9th March BannersGavin Spokes will lead the cast in The National Theatre’s award winning comedy One Man 2 Guvnor’s. He will take on the brilliant leading role of Francis for the UK tour opening in Sheffield from May and continuing. Jodie Mc Nee will play Maggie in the classic Hobson’s Choice at Regents Park this summer with Nadia Fall directing. Also confirmed early summer, Ferdy Roberts will join the eagerly awaited stage premiere of the Oscar winning film Shakespeare in Love at The Noel Coward, Ferdy takes the role of Fennyman with Declan Donnellan directing. Richard Dempsey will also be returning to the West End as he joins the cast of Sam Mendes’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the role of Mr Bucket. Royal Scottish graduate Tafline Steen, meanwhile, makes her professional stage debut at The Almeida Theatre in King Charles III, Mike Bartlett’s controversial new play which Rupert Goold directs. Jay Simpson joins the RSC for the first time playing a trio of terrific roles as part of The Roaring Girls season whilst Joe Sims joins the cast of Three Sisters at Southwark Playhouse in a new version by Anya Reiss with Russell Bolam directing. Daniel Rabin goes to The Globe this season for Antony & Cleopatra and Holy Warriors, David Eldridge’s new play whilst Amy Cudden joins Blanche McIntyre for Tonight At 8.30, a fascinating collection of one act Coward plays that will be touring from May.

Openings include Jodie McNee as Viola in Liverpool Everyman’s Twelfth Night, Amy Marston in Ayckbourn’s A Small Family Business at The National and Jess Murphy in World Enough & Time at The Park Theatre. Jude Monk McGowan continues in Punch Drunk’s acclaimed The Drowned Man at Temple Studios whilst Alex Blake and Scott Karim join Secret Cinema this month who are recreating Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

On Screen:

9th March SquareHayley Carmichael joins a terrific cast for the new BBC drama series Our Zoo, the period drama based around the setting up of Chester Zoo in the 1920s. Joe Sims is confirmed as returning to Broadchurch Series II in his breakthrough role of Nigel Carter, Naomi Bentley joins the ensemble of the popular Sky comedy drama Mount Pleasant whilst Roger Sloman will be making a regular return to Eastenders as local undertaker Les Coker. Joseph May joins the ABC drama Mistresses shooting in LA whilst Episodes in which he plays series reg Andy Button is recomissioned for a 4th season. Also returning is the ever popular Waterloo Road which will see Pooky Quesnel joining the academy as Olga.

Summer Nights

Lisa Palfrey in Family TreeHBO’s mockumentary series Family Tree directed by Christopher Guest and featuring Lisa Palfrey as Luba, Chris O’Dowd’s Moldovan stepmother also tx’s BBC2 10pm from Tuesday July 16. Regular viewers of Eastenders will have seen Carl’s dramatic arrival in the square – watch out for Daniel Coonan whose storylines in the show promise to be huge this summer. And Jay Simpson and Vincenzo Nicoli can both be seen in exciting new Channel 4 drama Run which begins txs July.

Summer Shoots

Eliza Graves Film PosterRobert Hands is filming the feature Eliza Graves. Directed by Brad Anderson and based on an early work of Edgar Allen Poe. Robert will be appearing alongside Kate Beckinsale and Jim Sturgess and is currently shooting in Sofia. Amy Marston has just been cast in New World by Peter Flannery and Martine Brant. This four parter for Channel 4, the next chapter of The Devils Whore, will be directed by Charles Martin for Company Pictures. Also for Company Pooky Quesnel is filming Truckers, a five-part drama written by William Ivory set in Nottingham with Sue Tully directing. Also Richard Teverson and Hermione Gulliford are filming guest roles on series two of The Bletchley Circle. Rocky Marshall shoots legal drama Silk for the BBC and Derek Hutchinson films By Any Means a new Tony Jordon drama for the BBC.

Summer Fun

ITV has commissioned Hartswood to make a 6 x 60 minutes comedy drama series titled Edge Of Heaven starring Nitin Kundra in the role of Tandeep Chatterjee. Written by Robert Evans the series follows the organised chaos of the Taylor-Chatterjee family and shoots starts late August. Cosima Shaw is filming Toast a new 6 part sitcom for Channel 4, directed by Michael Cumming, written by Arthur Matthews (Father Ted) and Matt Berry. Roger Sloman and Richard Dempsey both film guest roles in the new series of Doc Martin which Nigel Cole directs.